So Dora is ready. I finished all her clothes from her little rose bud sprigged knickers to her lace knitted bonnet.

I have loved dressing this doll, loved cuddling this doll, loved having her in my studio all this time but now she is ready, really ready to go. She is a little girl on the brink, just about to leave the dreaminess of early childhood and move into the bright sunshine ahead. It's a special time isn't it, the little kindergarten child, still so wrapped in the dreaming, still connected but only just it seems to the heavens, about to become sturdy and sure.

I remember reading about children really coming into their bodies at this time, that they needed lots of jumping and running and climbing to build their connection with the earth. I feel like Dora is on the brink of this. I shared a quote from an Elizabeth Goudge book here on the blog a few days ago. She describes it so well.

Dora is in the shop now, the listing goes live tonight at 11pm Tasmanian time ( 9amEST )